About

About Catherine Moonan

Catherine Moonan set up Communication Matters in 2002 to provide training in communication and presentation skills. Since then, Catherine has trained individuals and corporate groups within a wide range of business sectors. As the Pitch Coach on RTÉ’s ‘Dragons’ Den’, Catherine has successfully coached more than 500 contestants on all the series to date and helped them to secure more than €5 million investment.

Catherine is a lecturer in International Communications and Presentation Skills with the Irish Management Institute (IMI).

She has worked with a wide range of corporates and multinationals. These include AbbVie, Enterprise Ireland, ESB, The British Embassy, National Treasury Management Association, Bank of Ireland, AIB, Accenture, Aramark and Kerry Group. She has also carried out events for Local Enterprise Offices, Chambers of Commerce and Networking Groups.

Catherine has coached entrepreneurs and graduates on many of Ireland’s established start-up programmes. These include:

Enterprise Ireland’s SPRINT and ‘Access Silicon Valley’ Programme
Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Finalists
NDRC’s HealthTech and FinTech
UCD’s Innovation Academy
DCU’s Ryan Academy
DIT’s Hothouse Programme
Several New Frontiers Programmes in the Institutes of Technology around Ireland.

Catherine was also a mentor with Synbio axlr8r, Makers TV Accelerator, Bank of Ireland Accelerator Programme and Start Planet Northern Ireland. She has also worked as the Pitch Coach for 700 start-ups from 50+ countries as part of the European Innovation Academy (EIA) 2016 in Nice and Turin.

Catherine is also a broadcaster and journalist. She has contributed to the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Irish Daily Mail, RTÉ Radio One, Newstalk, Today FM, Dublin City FM and BBC Radio Humberside. She has also carried out research for RTÉ’s political and business series Prime Time.

Catherine is a graduate of Dublin City University (DCU) and holds an Honours Degree in French and German and a Masters Degree in Journalism; she also holds a Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College Dublin.

Prior to setting up Communication Matters, Catherine’s career background includes working as a member of Aer Lingus cabin crew, a French and German secondary school teacher and a manager with Compaq.

What they say...

I HAD THE pleasure of working with Catherine on Dragons' Den, and I know that the contestants really valued her pitch coaching. She eased their nerves beforehand and gave them the confidence to tell their unique story in an engaging manner.
- Norah Casey, broadcaster; (former) CEO, Harmonia

I HAVE WORKED with Catherine in her capacity as a pitch coach during the first four seasons on Dragons’ Den. Catherine is a true professional and knows her subject inside out. She has a really calm approach and a lovely manner which puts her very nervous customers completely at ease.
- Bobby Kerr, broadcaster' (former) Chairman, Insomnia Coffee Company